Andy Schooler reflects on the year 'Soccer' went Stateside - minus England - and served up some decent football that most fans had been deprived of in Italy four years previously.
Wednesday 14 March 2018 13:53, UK
'Soccer' went Stateside in 1994, even if England didn't, and thankfully served up some decent football that most fans had been deprived of in Italy four years previously.
It was predictably full of glitz and glamour and crowds were huge, but even before holders Germany kicked off the tournament with a 1-0 win over Bolivia, the hosts were causing a stir.
With TV dominating sport in the country, organisers wanted games split into four quarters rather than two halves. Fifa soon laughed that off.
Another of my enduring memories also came before a ball had been kicked.
At the opening ceremony at Soldier Field, Chicago, Diana Ross was on hand to 'do the honours' but woefully failed to find the net from six yards.
Fortunately, the real players were a little more lethal in front of the target - none more so than Russian Oleg Salenko. He netted a Cup record five goals in one first-round game against Cameroon. He would finish as the joint winner of the Golden Boot with six alongside Bulgaria's Hristo Stoichkov.
That game was one for the statisticians. It also featured a goal from Roger Milla.
Such a success at Italia '90, Milla was unable to recreate that magic but did manage to become the oldest player (officially 42 although it is thought he was older) to score in the finals.
Those were the only stats that really mattered from that 6-1 Russian win as both sides had already made their exit from Group B from which eventual winners Brazil plus Sweden emerged.
With Fifa sticking with their questionable qualification system of eliminating only eight teams at the first stage, three teams made it through from Group A - Romania, Switzerland and the hosts.
But the games would be overshadowed by an event in another country, miles from the action.
Colombia had entered the tournament as many people's dark horses but failed miserably.
And when Andres Escobar netted a disastrous own goal against USA, he effectively signed his own death warrant. On his return to Colombia, Escobar was shot dead outside a restaurant, supposedly as he had cost local drug barons money in lost bets.
Predictably, the Germans and Spain emerged from Group C, although there were plenty in Britain cheering on South Korea when they fought back from 3-0 down to 3-2 against Berti Vogts' men.
Group D threw up plenty of memories. Gabriel Batistuta netted a hat-trick against whipping boys Greece but that was not the image to live in the mind. That was to be Diego Maradona's bizarre antics as the celebrating striker snorted his distorted expression into a TV camera.
Days later the world found out he'd taken the banned stimulant ephedrine and was sent home in disgrace.
Stoichkov got his tally moving with two penalties against the woeful Greeks who remain the only side to qualify and never score a goal at the finals. They also let in 10.
But it was Nigeria and the net-shaking Daniel Amokachi who topped the table after a surprise defeat for the Argentines in their final game against Bulgaria left them in third and with a tough second-round encounter with Romania.
The Irish were the side everyone in Britain was following and they didn't disappoint as they stunned Italy with a Ray Houghton goal in the Group E opener.
It proved to be the tightest group with a turgid Norway proving hard to beat, and Mexico revelling in their underdog role.
The Mexicans got the better of Ireland in Orlando as boss Jack Charlton whinged about water as his side wilted in the heat.
John Aldridge's swearing rant at an official as he was delayed coming on as sub also raised a smile.
But unable to beat Norway, Ireland only just scraped through as the group was decided by the narrowest of margins - goals scored - although justice was done as the Norwegians went home.
Saudi Arabia were the surprise side in the final group, as they managed to split the Benelux domination of Holland and Belgium.
Belgium had been set to win the group but were beaten by the Saudis in the group decider, thanks to an amazing solo goal from Saeed Owairan.
So having spent a fortnight getting rid of just eight teams, the competition really got going as the knockout phase arrived.
Signs of German weakness were evident as they beat Belgium 3-2, but Spain were way too strong for the Swiss in Washington.
Sweden ended Saudi Arabia's hopes with a 3-1 victory, while the hosts made their exit despite playing against a 10-man Brazil side for much of their tie following Leonardo's dismissal.
The Irish also bowed out as they returned to the heat of Florida and were well beaten by the Dutch who were aided by a Packie Bonner error.
A big shock was on the cards with just two minutes to go when Nigeria took on Italy.
But talisman Roberto Baggio came up with the goods for Italy after Gianfranco Zola had been sent off and the Italians won 2-1 after extra-time.
The goalposts collapsing causing a lengthy delay was the most memorable thing about Romania's penalty shoot-out victory over Mexico.
One of the Bulgarian scorers was Bontcho Guentchev who would soon line up in the Premier League for Ipswich.
The remaining last-16 clash was a cracker. And it saw the Argentines bow out.
Ilie Dumitrescu scored twice early on and the inspirational Georghe Hagi added another in the second half as Argentina were beaten more convincingly than the 3-2 scoreline suggests.
The tournament had caught light and the quarter-finals helped stoke things up.
Another late goal from Baggio saw Italy beat Spain 2-1 and kept the pony-tailed attacking midfielder as the name on everyone's lips.
On the same day Brazil and Holland served up a cracker and the picture of the competition.
The game sparked into life in the second half as Brazil opened up a 2-0 lead with goals from their livewire strike force of Romario and Bebeto.
The second goal was celebrated in cradle-rocking style by the Brazilians following the birth of Bebeto's baby and was copied by many a child on playing fields across the land.
But the Dutch refused to lie down, levelling the tie with goals from Dennis Bergkamp and Aron Winter before Branco netted a late winner with a blockbusting free-kick.
The surprise of the round came the following day in New York when the reigning champions crashed out.
When Lothar Matthaus put them ahead from the spot against Bulgaria all looked well, but two goals in three minutes stunned the Germans.
First Stoichkov levelled and then the balding Yordan Letchkov produced a famous diving header to put his side into the semis.
It was Sweden, not Romania, who joined them in the last four when they won the final tie of the round on penalties.
With the semis keeping Brazil and Italy apart, everyone expected those two to reach the final and the formbook prevailed.
The irrepressible Baggio scored two more as Italy got off to a flier against Bulgaria before holding on for a 2-1 win.
Brazil were also narrow winners, a Romario goal 10 minutes from time putting them into the final after Jonas Thern had been dismissed.
And so to the final.
The superb attacking force that was Brazil went in as the favourites, but with Baggio in outstanding form, could he see the Italians home?
The answer was no as Baggio turned villain.
After what was a disappointing final which ended goalless after extra-time, the cup was to be decided on penalties for the first time in World Cup history.
Franco Baresi and Marcio Santos both missed early kicks and when Daniele Massaro's penalty was saved by Taffarel, it left Baggio needing to score to keep his side in it.
The pressure told as the Italian blazed the ball into the crowd and instead of ending as a hero he left with zero, Brazil lifting the trophy for a record fourth time.
